Here’s Why a Ductless HVAC System Might Be the Right Option for You
When renovating an old space or designing a building from scratch, there are a lot of decisions to make. Probably one of the most important is what type of air conditioning system to install. Luckily, you won’t have to wrack your brain too much when it comes to selecting the right type, as there are really just two contenders when it comes to air conditioning systems: ducted and ductless. While each has their pros and cons, in today’s article your HVAC repair and installation specialists over at R.A. Biel Plumbing and Heating make a strong case for going ductless and explain some of the key benefits of doing so in this post.
What’s the Difference Between Ducted and Ductless Air Conditioners?
This one is pretty obvious. Ducted air conditioning systems will have a network of ducts made of sheet metal inside the walls of your residential or commercial building that deliver warmed or cooled air to different parts of your home using vents.
Ductless air conditioners, also known as ductless mini-splits, on the other hand, don’t use ducts to distribute air. Instead, they send refrigerant directly to multiple small air handlers or blowers that HVAC maintenance and installation experts place strategically around your space. These blowers or handlers resemble small boxes and remove heat from each room individually.
Both systems have their own merits, but ductless air conditioning systems work especially well for certain types of applications.
The Benefits of Choosing a Ductless Air Conditioning System
While ducted HVAC systems are more common, especially in commercial applications, there are many benefits to going ductless. Here are just some of them:
- Superior cooling control. Since ductless mini-splits work through a series of individual blowers, you can turn off cooling in specific areas of your home or business establishment when it’s not needed. This is useful if you want your employees to have the ability to set the temperature in their workspace to suit their comfort without affecting the rest of the building.
- Lower utility bills. A lot of HVAC repair and installation companies recommend a ductless system so you can control which areas of your home or business receive cooled air. You may have a spare room or storage space that doesn’t really need to be kept at a cool temperature, so cutting off the air in that space will significantly reduce the amount of electricity you consume and lower your utility bill.
- Better indoor air quality. Ducts are a natural collection spot for dust and other debris, including pollen, dust mites, animal dander and other pollutants and allergens. This may not seem like a huge deal, but studies have shown that workers who are exposed to better quality indoor air are happier and more productive. Believe it or not, having cleaner, healthier air circulating around your workspace also dramatically reduces the number of sick days your employees have to take.
- Less maintenance. While all HVAC systems require periodic maintenance to keep them operating smoothly, a mini-split system won’t require air duct cleaning since there are no air ducts to begin with.
- It also provides heat. Many home and business owners don’t realize that ductless HVAC systems also work as heat pumps. Mini-split systems are not only great for keeping you cool during the summer, but also warm during the winter.
- Design freedom. Chances are, if you’re building a small commercial space or home from the ground up, your contractor or HVAC maintenance and installation company will recommend a ductless air conditioning system. With a ductless system, you’ll have more freedom and flexibility to design the space you want since you won’t have to deal with a bunch of ducts.
- More space. Because you’re not dealing with an entire network of ducts, which takes up a considerable amount of indoor space, you’ll be able to maximize your retail establishment and have somewhere to store more goods or other items. Remember, every square foot counts, so be sure to use them as wisely and efficiently as possible.
When to Choose Ductless HVAC Systems
There are so many great reasons to install a ductless air conditioning system, but here are four major ones that can help you decide if you’re still on the fence:
If space is at a premium. If you live in a small condo or a beautiful New York City brownstone, you probably don’t want ductwork taking up unnecessary space or messing up your gorgeous high ceilings. Additionally, if you have a small retail space and need extra room to store your stock and supplies, then going ductless is a great solution.
You want to decrease dust. As mentioned above, going ductless can drastically improve air quality and decrease dust in your indoor space. If you have a family member that’s prone to allergies or has respiratory issues such as asthma, then ductless HVAC systems are definitely the way to go.
You’re adding to an existing space. If you’re adding a room to an existing space, then installing a ductless air conditioner is probably the more economical option. This is because adding new ducts can be complicated and costly, and your existing unit may not have the capacity to cool the additional space, in which case you’d have to replace your entire system.
You want multiple cooling zones. Because ductless ACs basically work as individual units, you can independently set different temperatures in different areas of your house. If you need to turn up the air conditioning in your living room because you’re entertaining a large group of people but don’t want to lower the temperature in the rooms where your children sleep, then a ductless HVAC system can offer you this flexibility.
Whether you need air duct cleaning for your existing ducted system or would like to install a brand-new ductless HVAC system, you can turn to the experts at R.A. Biel Plumbing and Heating. For all your HVAC-related needs, be sure to give us a call at (505) 327-7755 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free appointment with one of our highly-skilled technicians today.
The post Here’s Why a Ductless HVAC System Might Be the Right Option for You appeared first on R.A. Biel Plumbing & Heating, Inc..
Our Recent Articles
